‘I don’t want to think about the criticism I may get for putting loyalty before my filial feelings,’ said Edmund.

‘I can see now that it wasn’t only your brother’s evil disposition that made him seek your father’s death: he was provoked by a fatal flaw in his nature.’

‘What bad luck it is that I have to feel guilty about being loyal!’ exclaimed Edmund. ‘This is the letter he mentioned, which proves that he’s spying for France. Oh heavens! I wish that this treason wasn’t happening, nor that I was the one who detected it.’

‘Come with me to the Duchess,’ said Cornwall.

‘If the contents of this letter are true you’ve got some serious business to conduct,’ Edmund said.

‘True or false, it has made you the Earl of Gloucester. Find out where your father is so that we can apprehend him.’

It occurred to Edmund that if he could discover his father helping the King it would make the Duke even more suspicious. ‘I’ll persevere in my path of loyalty,’ he told Cornwall. ‘Even though this conflict of interest is very painful.’